Joanna (Greek: Ἰωάννα γυνὴ Χουζᾶ) is a woman mentioned in the gospels who was healed by Jesus and later supported him and his disciples in their travels. She was the wife of Chuza, who managed the household of Herod Antipas, the king of Galilee. Her name means "Yahweh has been gracious." [1] It is a variation of the name "Anna" which means grace, or favor.

In the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, she is a saint. She is one of the women recorded in the Gospel of Luke as accompanying Jesus and the twelve.

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Joanna is one of Luke's witnesses

Joanna was the wife of Chuza, steward to Herod Antipas. She is listed in Luke 8:2–3 as one of the women who "had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities" who accompanied Jesus and the Apostles, and "provided for Him from their substance". Adrian Hastings suggests that she could have been one of Luke's sources for information regarding the Herodian court.[2]

As the wife of an important court official, she would have had sufficient means needed to travel and contribute to the support of Jesus and the disciples. It has been suggested that as her husband apparently permitted this, he may have been sympathetic or grateful. She was probably among the women that are mentioned in Mark 15:40 who watched the crucifixion from a distance.[3]

Myrrhbearer

In Luke 24:10 Joanna is identified among the group of women, along with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James who took spices to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. Although the apostles discounted the women's testimony, Peter and another disciple decided to look for themselves. Joanna is considered among the witnesses to the Resurrection.

Although not mentioned by name, Joanna is most likely counted as one of the women who joined the disciples and Mary, the mother of the Lord, in the upper room in prayer. She was among the group of 120 who chose St. Matthias to fill the vacancy that was left by Judas, as well as being present on the Day of Pentecost.[3]

Identification with Junia

Both Richard J. Bauckham and Ben Witherington III conclude that the disciple Joanna is the same woman as the Christian Junia mentioned by Paul in his Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:7). However, while some early Greek manuscripts list the name as "Julia", most editors have interpreted it as the male name "Junias".[5]

Joanna granddaughter of Theophilus

An ossuary has been discovered bearing the inscription, "Johanna, granddaughter of Theophilus, the High Priest."[6]